Page 92 of A Dagger in the Ivy

My grip tightens on Thora’s reins. I’m suddenly filled with a fear that he’s come to stop me from leaving. “What are you doing?”

Dante’s jaw is set as he sidles up beside me. “Looking for the prince.”

I clench my teeth. “If you’re that determined, shouldn’t you be heading out to join the king’s squad?”

“I go where I please.”

“And that’s with me?”

His serious expression wavers for a moment. “That mouth.” He shakes his head. “You think I’m letting you run off alone and get yourself killed? I haven’t spent all this time hating you just to let someone else do it.”

I know he’s trying to make me lower my defenses, but I don’t give in. “I need to do this, Dante.”

“As do I.” He takes a deep breath. “He’s my brother. And not only do I need to ensure he’s alive and well, I also need to keep the promise I made to him. I was instructed to protect you, and I intend to fulfill that duty.”

I bristle at his words, my frustration bubbling to the surface as I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t need your protection.”

Dante’s expression softens slightly at my words, his eyes betraying a hint of concern. “I know you’re capable, Celeste. But I’m not about to let you face this alone.”

Thora snorts. She’s as impatient as I am.

“Besides,” he says, lifting a brow, “you don’t even know where to start looking.”

“And you do?”

“I happen to have information that may help.”

I study his face. “You spoke to Sam.”

“I did.”

If Dante really knows something, I can’t afford to turn him away. As much as I hate the idea of relying on him, I need every advantage I can get. Finding Torbin is the priority, and if that means letting Dante come along, then so be it.

“Fine. Then let’s not waste any more time.” With a resigned sigh, I turn Thora in the direction I intend to go. “But stay close. I slow down for no one.”

CHapter

Thirty-Three

We’ve been riding for over an hour. Not wanting to wear the horses out, we slow our pace between sprints. The landscape stretches out before us in a vast expanse of rugged terrain and untamed wilderness. Darkening clouds loom ominously overhead, casting a shadow of uncertainty over our journey. The air is heavy with the promise of an impending storm, and I can feel the weight of anxiety settling in the pit of my stomach.

The path ahead winds its way through dense forests and rolling hills, each step bringing us closer to the unknown. The looming threat of the approaching storm adds a sense of urgency to our quest, driving us onward despite the trepidation that gnaws at the edges of my mind.

As the wind picks up, the wails are accompanied by the howls of wolves. It’s as if they cry a warning to us. I can’t help but feel a sense of unease creeping over me. The countryside is both beautiful and foreboding, its untamed beauty a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk within its depths.

Thunder rumbles in the sky, and the heavens alight as lightning strikes. The clouds open up, and heavy rain flows, pelting us as if withfury. As the storm rages around us, a tempest of wind and rain threatens to swallow us whole. Dark clouds surge overhead, obscuring the sky with their ominous presence, while jagged streaks of lightning pierce the darkness, illuminating the landscape in brief, fleeting flashes.

The wind howls like a wounded beast, whipping through the trees and sending shivers down my spine. I try to keep my hood over my head, but it is constantly ripped away from me. Sheets of rain keep us drenched to the bone, and my clothes cling to me like a second skin.

Despite the chaos surrounding us, Dante remains steadfast at my side, his presence a reassuring anchor in the midst of the storm. We press on through the deluge, our horses trudging their way through the muddy terrain. I can feel the tension mounting with each passing moment, the urgency of our situation driving us forward with single-minded determination.

Dante’s voice cuts through the roar of the storm, his words barely audible over the deafening cacophony. “I know a place where we can find shelter!”

I try to answer, but my voice gets lost in the wind. I nod, clenching Thora’s reins tightly.

Above the roar of the wind and the pounding rain, a haunting chorus rises into the night air—a symphony of primal howls that resonate up and down my spine. The wolves’ mournful cries echo through the darkness, penetrating the veil of the storm with eerie precision. The sound should be terrifying, a harbinger of danger lurking in the shadows. Yet somehow, it feels different. Almost… comforting.

Dante and I press on through the tempest. The howls seem to grow louder, drawing us ever closer to our destination. It’s as if the wolves are guiding us, leading us toward the safety of shelter amidst the chaos of the storm.

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